Automatic throttle control system



April 19, 1949. E. KRIEG AUTOMATIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM it. v Nb 6W v v WH 3. QM Q Filed May 9, 1947 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 r AUTOMATIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM Eldon L. Krieg, South Whitley, Ind., assignor to The Maco Corporation,

corporation Huntington, Ind., a

Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 745,977

1 This invention relates to a control mechanism I for the throttle system of a self-propelled vehicle.

Such a vehicle of passenger, truck, or bus type includes an internal combustion engine the speed 5 or comp Sw tc w c can be moun ed on of which is controlled by an accelerator northe toe board, dash, steering wheel, or any other mally constrained to low idle position; that is, convenient location. It is always in open circuit when not foot engaged the accelerator returns condition and is closable by finger or foot presto an orignial position wherein the engine is sup- Sure as des edplied with just enough fuel to keep it ()pelat- 1 (13 indicates a conventional source of energy ing. which is connected by a branch line M to the Since, for vehicle travel, the accelerator nor- Sw Same being connected y e 15 0 mally must be held depressed against such conql in turn Connected y return l e I t straint long driving results in driver tiring. Actl Source- Solenoid is connectfid by e Same cordingly, the present invention is directed to the 15 111,19 to Said F Supply flfom llne holding of the fuel control system in the position cqnnected in multlple Wlth the stop llght circult corresponding to the speed desired. Also, in comincluding DP Y 11116 brake lever Operable mon with devices of this general character when on e Swltch lme F20, Stop light d Slow down or stopping is desired e present return line 22. Switch l9 accordingly automatically controls solenoid II when the brake pedal vention is deactivated automatically as when the brakes are applied.

The present invention, accordingly, is directed to a control mechanism of the aforesaid type which is of a character such that increase in speed automatically releases the control; second, a device which is electrically actuated; and third, 9. device wherein electrical energy is only required to initiate the control and wherein the release automatically can be effected by speed increase or by braking whichever driving condition is required as in an emergency.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the formation of a control mechanism that not only accomplishes the aforesaid objects but is of comparatively small size, easily mountable in any convenient location on the vehicle, and which comprises but few parts.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

.The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims: 1

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the interior of one half of the upper portion of the device substantially full size, the base being shown in central section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other half of the upper portion.

Fig. 3 is a circuit wiring diagram of the invention.

'Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Y v

"Fig. 5' is a schematic diagram of a rigid connection-between anaccelerator and the invention.

11 Claims. (Cl.1923) Fig. 6 is a similar view of a Bowden wire type of connection.

Referring to Fig, 3, 10 indicates a solenoid and H a second solenoid. l2 indicates a push button is 'depressed all Without any conscious control of the driver. Herein solenoid Ill constitutes the initiating solenoid and solenoid H the releasing solenoid.

Normally each is deenergized at all times except when the control is to be imposed or when the control is to be released upon desired speed reduction, such energization being of momentary character, although a longer period of energization is not objectionable should, for example, the brake pedal be held depressed for a considerable period or switch l2 be held closed for a considerable period.

In Figs, 1, 4, and 5 there is illustrated a bell mouthed fitting 23 threaded in complementary half sockets 24-45, see Figs. 1, 2, and 4, of the complementary body portions 26 and 21, respectively, suitably secured together by suitable means associated with openings 28 and 29, respectively, which register. A base 30 is suitably secured to both by means not shown. Tapped holes 3| are adapted to take bracket mounting bolts whereby the unit may be suitably mounted upon the ve- Having thus described two of the major p01".

the same maybe connected ground wire 16 if" a" grounded circuit system be employed. Terminal posts 4| and 42 extend through the housing inwinsulated relation thereto and. are. connected to.

leads I and of solenoids Wand Hirespec tively. Terminal 4| is connected: to line l5,

Fig. 3, and terminal 42 is connected to-line llsee same figure.

Referring more particularly to, Fig. 1, note that at the end of portion 2a oppositetheba'se'thie i is provided a channel 43 that is closed at one end and at the other end communicates with threaded: half opening 24. This channel is counterbored or recessed as at 44,'same terminating short of the ends of the channel but otherwise being coextensive therewith. I

it screw 45. anchors one end. of tension spring 48 having an opposite end 45 of loop type. This. spring is seated and extensible and contractible incounterbore or recess- 44.. Sl-idable in channel 43 is bar member 41' having rack teeth 48 0); its] lower faceand carrying a. pin 49 that. rides in 46- associated therewith. Whenever the bar-is. moved to the right, sprir-ig tli. is extended.

Connected to said bar is one. end of a flexible; cable 50 of suitable length. This passes through the bell-mouthed member-23 and has its opposite end suitably secured to the accelerator pedal 7 Spring 46 isof much less force-than'th springforce applied to the accelerator to return same toward low idle position. Therefore, inthegfiexa ible cable type of connection the devicespring 46 has the functi'on of taking upanyslack occurring i ini'the cable upon accelerator advance. When a mechanical link connection is-substituted for thecable as shown in Fig. 5 or'a Bowderr wire conne'ctionis substituted see Fig. 6, slack re.

moving spring 46 and its end-connections may be omitted.

Reference will againbe had more particularly to Fig. l and the upper central'portion thereof.

Communicating with and intermediate the of channel 43 is a transverse channel 5|-. The lower end is closed. This channel is formed-in partition 33. member or pawl 52 havingone or morerackengaging teeth 53. is such that when the pawlis bottomflseated teeth 53 clear teeth48 on rackbar or ratchet 41:.

When the pawl is raised into.- bar'engagement,

it interlocks therewith at any position; The-bar confined in its channel, and due. to accelerator" spring force applied holds the Dawl-againstits channel side wall andprevents its release; When until the pawl tooth or teeth clears the .rack teeth. This automatically releases the-interlock between pawl and rack-bar.

Housing 26 to the; right of channel 5| and her.

The depth of said channel 5| Slidabie in channel 5|." is :they latch; inmultiple with said stop light 2| is also enera so channel 5| forming shoulder 55 therebetween. The upper end of channel 54 is inclined as at 56 for clearance purposes.

Housing 26 to the left of channel 5| and below channel 43 includes a laterally directed channel 51 which at its right end communicates with channel 5| forming fulcrum 58 therebetween. The" upper end of channel 51' is inclined as at 59 for clearance purposes.

Pawl 52 near its upper end and at opposite .sides is notched out as at 60 and 6|, said notches confronting channels 54 and 51, respectively. In

"each ofthe lastmenti'oned channels is a bar 62 and 53, respectively. Since channels 54 and 51 communicate near their opposite ends with $018- noid receiiving recesses 36 and 31, respectively, at, their upper ends, the bars 62 and 63 overlie the solenoids HI- and II.

In-solenoid I0 is a core 64 carrying stem 55. In solenoid H is a core 66 carrying stem 81. Sincethe adjacent ends of bars 62 and 63 are always'seatcd' in notches 60 and BI, respectively, and overlieth'e' said solenoids, whenever either is energized-the respective core is elevated from its" rest position on bumper and silencer 33, respecbar'GZis tilted and in so'doing pawl 52 is elevated" .so that the tooth or teeth 53 engages the rack bar themecess and has t e 1 d 45%- of th "teeth; This results in therack bar being locked in an advanced throttle position. This condition" will prevail so" long as desired. Thus, the driver can' rest his foot while the throttle is mechanically held at-the" selected position. Push button I!" effects solenoid l0 energiz'ation'as and when desired; Even if it were actuated whilethe control was holdingly effective, the only result would be toraisecore E4- and it would be held elevated as" long as switch l2 were held closed.

'Shouldtratfic conditions-require an advancein speed, the accelerator is further advanced. Bar 41; movable in accordance therewith advances to the left-and as a result pawl 52- returns to mactiveornonlocking position by gravitywhereit rema-i'ns'iuntildt is-desired to again impose automatic'control at the previous speed, a lower speed, ora higherspeed which imposition is effected by momentarily closing switch l2.

Should, however, trafiicconditions' require an immediat'edecrease in speed'it is obvious that the brakes should be applied. Whenever the brake" pedal'isfeng'a'ged and actuated sufiicientlyto close the stop light circuit, nowcommon to most:

vehicles-andreiiuired by statute, the solenoid its stem 61 totilt bar i3 upwardly. Such tilting" results in the notch seated end of said her movlow channel 43 includesa. laterally. directed chaning'downwardly'to su'fliciently withdraw pawl 51 1 so that the tooth orteeth 53 of i the same release" from the ratchet teeth. 7

, Further pa'wl' retraction into channel 5| iseffected by'gravity u'pon' teeth disengagement, since bar 53 is its lowest position and notch 5| is longer than necessary toefiectpawl release. Thus, solenoid constitutes a lock release powersource Only;

trol is nov longer imposed and can only be reimposed by again closing switch I2 and reenere gizing solenoid |l. Thus, the-solenoids are only ;,required'-t0 bemomentarilv energized and consti- Upon effecting such release, the automatic contute no drain upon the power source while the control is imposed.

From the foregoing, it also will be obvious that the only manual operation required is to momentarily energize solenoid It by closing switch I2 or its equivalent. The control is of the safety type in that if increased speed or decreased speed is instantaneously required, the same is automatically effected by the vehicle driver advancing the accelerator or applying the brakes and all without any attention or regard to the previously imposed control. This means instantaneous release of the control in emergencies. Also, this invention is so devised that repetitious operation of either solenoid or continuous energization of said solenoid has no further effect upon the control after the initial momentary energization.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a throttle control system for holding an accelerator in a position above low idle, such accelerator being normally constrained by suitable means to low idle position, the combination therewith of a to and fro movable member adapted for operative connection to such accelerator, a second member movable to and fro adapted for first member engagement to hold the latter in an advanced speed position and to release same to the accelerator constraining means, electrically operable means for moving said second member into first member holding position, and electrically operable means for moving said second member to release said first member.

2. A throttle system as defined by claim 1 wherein each electrical operable means is required to be but momentarily energized to effect the second member movement specified.

3. A throttle system as defined by claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a ratchet toothed bar and the second member comprises a transversely disposed toothed pawl.

4. A throttle system as defined by claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a ratchet toothed bar and the second member comprises a transversely disposed toothed pawl, the pawl being freely movable, lateral pressure upon the pawl incident to the force imposed by the accelerator constraining means constituting the sole force holding the pawl and ratchet members together.

5. A throttle control system as defined by claim 1 wherein the first mentioned member is operatively connected to such accelerator by a flexible cable, and a spring is provided to maintain the tautness in such cable, the force of said spring being less than the force of the accelerator constraining means.

6. In a throttle control the combination of an elongated rack member confined to longitudinal movement only, an elongated transversely disposed longitudinally reciproca'ble pawl, lever members disposed upon opposite sides of said pawl for independently effecting longitudinal movement of said pawl, and an impact means for each lever member, one lever member being of the first class and the other lever member being of the third class.

'7. A control as defined by claim 6 wherein each impact means comprises a reciprocable solenoid core, and a solenoid for electromagneticall moving said core for effectin pawl movement through its associated lever member.

8. In a self propelled vehicle having a source of electrical energy, a braking system, a stop light, a switch therefor operatively associated with the system and the source, and a fuel control system having an accelerator, and means normally constraining the accelerator to low idle position, the combination therewith of a rec-iprocable member operatively connected to such accelerator and subject to the constraining means imposed thereon, a second to and fro movable member disposed substantially transverse to the first memher and arranged when engaged therewith to hold such accelerator to a speed position above low idle position, electrically operable means for effecting member engagement including a manually closable normally open switch disposed for driver operation and connected to the source, and other electrically operable means in multiple with the stop light and automatically controlled by the switch therefor for automatically effecting member disengagement upon operation of the braking system.

9. Structure as defined by claim 8 wherein the first member includes ratchet teeth and the second member is toothed for tooth locking engagement therewith, the cooperating toothed engagement'permitting first member movement upon advance of the accelerator to a higher speed position, such advance movement automatically effecting member disengagement.

10. Structure as defined by claim 8 wherein the source is connectible to both said electrically operable means for at least momentary energization of the same.

11. Structure as defined by claim 10 wherein continued connection of either electrical means and the source beyond the momentary connection thereof is normally ineffective for further control purposes.

ELDON L. KRIEG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,436,154. Dickerson Nov. 21, 1922 1,662,211 Slner Mar. 13, 1928 2,159,772 Schroedter May 23, 1939 2,243,354 Musser May 27, 1941 2,270,002 Glick Jan. 13, 1942 

